It makes perfect sense that the next big standoff between the political left and right would be Hamilton on Broadway. It’s been brewing for months, ever since Lin Manuel Miranda’s show opened to the kind of praise that beats you over the head until you submit. Then it was just a cultural backlash, with some refusing to take in the hip hop musical for a variety of reasons — one of the biggest being the people who wouldn’t shut up about Hamilton. But now, thanks to Vice President-Elect Mike Pence and the night out that never ends, we’ve hit the point where Hamilton is a political issue.
Americans don't need to apologize-not even to presidents or vice presidents-for the lawful & proper exercise of their constitutional rights. https://t.co/daN147yjkM
— ACLU (@ACLU) November 19, 2016
Following Pence’s eventful night and the lecture that accompanied it, President-Elect Donald Trump tweeted out his confusing feelings and demanded an apology from the cast for “harassing” his VP. Many responded with ridicule to his claims that the theater was a “safe space,” but the end was nowhere in sight by that point. Trump supporters gave birth to the hashtag #BoycottHamilton in solidarity with their candidate and Pence, vowing the not see the musical or support it due to their lecturing ways.
https://twitter.com/EmmaKennedy/status/799972933686804480
Lecturing him in public and to the delight of his detractors wasn't courteous.
— Beto Lara (@beto_lara1980) November 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/benbabics/status/800127262938927105
https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/800120955439878144
This is all well and good because citizens should be allowed to protest and show their displeasure in a peaceful fashion. The problem with Boycotting Hamilton, though, becomes very clear with the comments that soon flooded in responding to the protest:
Anyone willing to #boycottHamilton was already boycotting Hamilton.
— Ari Levy (@levynews) November 19, 2016
Congratulations on bravely refusing to see a show with a two-year waiting list. #BoycottHamilton
— shauna (@goldengateblond) November 19, 2016
#TrumpCup – a protest against Starbucks by buying Starbucks.#BoycottHamilton – a protest against Hamilton by not buying sold out tickets.
— Em Harriss (@EmHarriss) November 19, 2016
The irony of the #BoycottHamilton movement is that it's mostly folks who already boycott both hip-hop and knowledge of history.
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) November 19, 2016
And then plenty of others made the same joke over and over:
Go ahead and #BoycottHamilton so I can finally get tickets! 🎫
— Tara Settembre (@tarametblog) November 19, 2016
I'm here to help! For those joining the #BoycottHamilton I'll take two tickets of your hand for any show during the coming week.
— Ian (@iiamit) November 19, 2016
If this was all to truly bury the news that Donald Trump settled the lawsuit over Trump University, it was a stroke of genius. That’s doubtful given how rare it is to get into Hamilton, but who knows. People have created wild theories out of more moving parts than just the cast of Hamilton.
Who knows how long this boycott will last or if it has the staying power to stay together until the show hits the traveling circuit across the country. What it does represent is that the divisions we had before the election will continue on all fronts now that Trump is in the White House. It’s only made worse now that Hamilton has become involved.